Foot and arch support for shoes.



T. COFFEY.

FOOT AND ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES. APPLICATION man NOV. 20. 1911.

1 ,291,639. Patented J an. 14, 1919 INVENTOR $004M flan d9 6219 61 Wu fifl ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATEN, OFFEQ.

THOMAS COFIEY, OF WEST TULSA, OKLAHOMA- FOOT AN D ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 20, 1917. Serial No. 202,991.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS'COFFEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot and Arch Supv same time present adjust-able means to sup-v portthe metatarsal arch.

A further object lies in constructing the adjustable arch supporting means as an inflatable pad which is capable of minute adjustment as to height and which at the same time conforms to the shape of the instep and gives a cushion therefor.

Vith the above and other objects in view, which will be in part described and in part understood from the specification, drawings, and claims, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction andcombination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in bottom elevation of one adaptation of the device of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the disclosure of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The upper and lower layers 1 and 2, which are of leather or other suitable material, are so shaped that they will fit within and substantially cover the inner sole of a shoe over the heel and instep portions thereof, and the upper piece of material, and also perhaps the lower piece, are constructed to have some little stifi'ness, although being possessed of suflicient resiliency to conform to the shape of the shoe and to give in the movement of the foot during use. Coil springs 3 are introduced between the two layers of material at such points that they will be disposed substantially beneath the heel and the ball of the foot, and again at the outer side of the instep arch, this disposition being shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

As it is desired that the structure shall function as an arch support and the device is intended to be complete within itself and to give the proper support irrespective=of whether it is worn with a stiff or soft soled shoe, a stiffening plate 4, which is of alum-- inum or other suitable material, is placed upon and secured to thebottom layer of material, 2, this plate being shaped substantially as indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 1. If desired, the plate may have the rib or corrugation 5 thereon to give additional strength and reinforcement, or the stiffening plate might be corrugated in any other desired way.

It is of course understood that the stiffening plate 4 is disposed substantially at that point where the instep arch will come upon the support structure, and as this stiffening plate is not intended as the means of support mounted at this point and is provided with a valve stem 7 which extends through the stiffening plate and opens on the lower side of the bottom layer 2 from which the support is made out. This valve stem 7 will have a suitable check valve introduced therein so that the bladder 6 may be inflated and it will of course be understood that the height of the pneumatic pad thus provided is governed by the quantity of air forced into the inflatable bladder 6. A layer of covering material as shown at 8 is placed over the inflatable bladder and over the top layer of material as shown at 1, and this covering material is cemented or otherwise secured preferably Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

for the arch, an inflatable bladder 6 is throughout substantially the entire extent to thus give a smooth surface for the foot, it of course being understood that the covering material at 8 will be left somewhat full and loose over the inflatable bladder 6 so that free expansion of the same will be permitted. As has been stated, one of the coil springs 3 is introduced between the layers of material 1 and 2 substantially beneath the outer side of the instep, and it is of course understood that the inflatable bladder 6 will be preferably shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 3 so that the proper fullness will be permitted under the metatarsal arch, and to give a full support to the entire arch, it is preferable that this inflatable bladder be extended slightly over the outside of the mainsupporting part, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it Wlll fit against the upper of the shoe at the arch and will thus ta e up any looseness of the shoe at this point, giving equal of rubber cement or unvulcanized rubber,

and then after the assembly of the several parts the entire structure might be placed in suitable molds and then be vulcanized to secure the proper set of the materials and the proper shaping of the structure as an entirety, although it will of course be understood that this is only one line which might be followed in making up the supports.

While, in the foregoing, I have described a specific embodiment of the present invention and have set forth only certain materials, it is to be understood that in practice, I do not wish to limit myself to such specific detail but may resort to any practical modifications falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim A foot and-arch supporter including an insole structure made up of upper and lower layers of material, a coil spring mounted therebetween to constitute a cushion therefor, a stifi'enin plate mounted in conjunction with the Insole structure adjacent the instep arch of a shoe to which the same is fitted, an inflatable pad structure mounted within said insole structure over the cushion plate, and a valve stem secured to said in- 2. A foot and arch supporter for shoes comprising an insole structure adapted to be removably fitted Within a shoe, a stiffening plate mounted in conjunction with the the insole structure above the stiffening plate, and an inflating valve carried by said pad and projecting down through the bottom of said insole structure and stifiening plate for facilitating the inflation of said pad and holding the valve out of contact With the upper of a shoe and the foot of the wearer.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an insole comprising a stiffening plate, a layer of covering material, an inflatable pad interposed between said covering material and stiffening plate, said layer of covering material provided with an end portion extending under said stiffening plate, and a valve carried by said inflatable pad and extending through said stiffening plate and through said last mentioned end and adapted to project through the bottom of said arch supporter whereby said pad may be conveniently inflated and at the same time the valve may be held out of contact with the foot and upper of a shoe when inserted therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

J. J. DAY, 'SAM Wrnson.

40 insole structure, an inflatable pad carried by THOMAS COF F EY. 

